The voyage into Central America was business which included evaluation of potential ports from which to conduct deep ocean salvage recovery operations.
We visited Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama over seven months finally focusing on Puerto Limon in Costa Rica where we set up shop and prepared to launch the operation.
Unfortunately, the location of the salvage was grossly overstated and the material was never found. Out of sheer frustration we actually scoured the shoreline in search of evidence, but it was not to be.
Armed with rucksack, water and gps, we headed up the coast along the beach climbing over rocks, forging streams but nothing. We began our search in Belize City which is nothing like the pictures in travel brochures.
Nice little port but not very well developed out in the middle of nowhere. Belize was a bust so we headed off to Nicaragua along Lake Nicaragua and live volcanos to the Port of Corinto on the Pacific side.
The first thing that we noticed was how clean and orderly everything was – quite a departure from Belize. And everyone seemed to be busy, no sitting around even if it meant sweeping the bare dirt yards around houses.
Our first impression was similar to Nicaragua, everything was clean, neat and tidy. We landed at San Jose, the capital, elevation 5,200ft about 70 miles by the crow fly from Puerto Limon. The drive from the high valley took five hours on a windy two lane highway down the mountains and jungle to the sea.
Puerto Limon was perfect for our needs. Nice port, with everything we needed as well as charm.
Across from the port entrance, the local street complete with restaurants, bakery and FedEx office. Everything a good port needs.
And like ports around the world are the truckers waiting for a load.
Yeks, this truck wouldn’t be allowed on our highways
Whilst Puerto Limon was perfect, however Panama offered two alternatives – Panama City on the Pacific side of the canal and Colon on the Caribbean side. Ultimately, we ended up in Colon after local authorities decided that they wanted our business and
didn’t want Limon to upstage them. That was after spending several months in Costa Rica waiting for our vessel to complete provisioning. Those months were delightful and are covered under the Perla Negra. tab. As for Panama, please see the Panama tab.
